Why did Canada give the Inuit their own province?

[raccoon]

It was nice of them, but governments aren't known for being nice.

Did the Inuits have to exert a lot of pressure to get that done?

[GliderGuider]

1. It's a territory, not a province, called Nunavut

There's some good information here.

In 1976 as part of the land claims negotiations between the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (then called the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada) and the federal government the division of the Northwest Territories was discussed. On the 14 April 1982, a plebiscite on division was held throughout the Northwest Territories with a majority of the residents voting in favour and the federal government gave a conditional agreement seven months later. A land claims agreement was decided in September 1992 and ratified by nearly 85% of the voters in Nunavut. On July 9, 1993, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and the Nunavut Act were passed by the Canadian Parliament, and the transition was completed on April 1, 1999.

Now you know.
:-)

[raccoon]

2. thanks. nt

[Canuckistanian]

3. I wouldn't characterize it as "giving them a province"

The Inuit have been active in government for a long time now and the territories are governed mostly by native leaders, in both the Northwest Territories and now Nunavut.

And, as GG said above, it was kind of like a land claims settlement.

Also, it was a matter of practicality. It's such a vast area of land, it was becoming more difficult for a single government body to administer.

Another thing to remember is that neither The Northwest Territories nor Nunavut are considered "provinces". They are more like a "protectorate" or "commonwealth", such as your Puerto Rico or Guam.

[sutz12]

4. Maybe there government officials are less confused about the definition of 'sovreignty' nt